The Card Apprentice

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

"I surrender."

Si Qing candidly and resolutely raised his right hand, ignoring shouts from the spectators around him. The confused referee looked at him and asked, "Are you sure you're giving up?"

"Yes!" Si Qing replied without hesitation.

The conversation between the two people was transmitted to every corner of the stadium through the system. The noises from the spectators grew even louder, but Si Qing kept a straight face.

The referee couldn't help but announce Chen Mu's victory.

From the start to the end, Chen Mu neither uttered a word nor moved a bit. He stepped out of the arena as soon as the referee announced the result. It was a baffling and disappointing match. Si Qing was surrounded by a crowd of reporters as soon as he left the arena.

"Mr Si Qing, why did you give up?"

"Mr Si Qing, were you threatened by anyone?"

"Mr Si Qing, were you pressured by anyone to give up?"

…

These reporters were hysterically thrilled. It was only the third match and a competitor had inexplicably surrendered. These journalists with a keen sense of detail were filling the gap with stories in their heads. If they could dig out the inside story, they would immediately become famous.

Those questions gave Si Qing a jolt. He was at a loss and shrugged his shoulders. "Gentlemen, I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. There is no inside story. I saw Mr. Chen Mu's battle unintentionally. After careful consideration, I made this rational choice. There's no pressure on me. I'm clearly aware of the difference between me and Mr Chen Mu."

Those reporters were disappointed, but some reporters were not satisfied. "Mr. Si Qing, as far as I know, your opponent is Chen Mu, and we've never heard of this name. Are you exaggerating…"

"That's just your opinion," said Si Qing disapprovingly. "In fact, I believe that as long as anybody has seen the battle, they would have made the same choice as me. I love prestige, but I treasure my life more. As for the fact that you haven't heard his name, I'm sure you'll remember it soon. I'm sorry, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to watch the next match. Would you please let me go?"

Si Qing's interview was broadcasted on various viewing platforms and aroused heated discussion.

"Who is this man?" Jia Yingxia saw this scene in the room and asked Bai Yue about Chen Mu.

Bai Yue bent forward and replied, "His background is still unclear. He got his entry card from Gong Liang yesterday evening. But when I arrived, both Gong Liang and Xiong family were killed. According to him, card artisans from Xiong family were angry at the loss of their entry ticket to the competition. They attacked Chen Mu in groups, but were killed. His explanation is similar to our investigation."

"Oh, this fellow is interesting." Jia Yingxia was a little startled.

Cang Lan unexpectedly replied, "This fellow is dangerous."

Jia Yingxia was somewhat surprised. "Mr. Cang's comment is very unique." He was not commenting on Chen Mu's strength or fighting capacity, but merely labelled him as dangerous.

"In the jungle of North Facing District, there are peculiar beasts living solitary lives. They are cruel and ruthless. This is a beast that anycard artisan wouldn't want to encounter or hunt. Their ferocity is not only to their enemy but also to themselves. I witnessed a Snow Claw Tiger bite at the beast's right leg, yet the beast didn't hesitate to bite its right leg off along with the skull of the Snow Claw Tiger, crushing it into pieces."

Cang Lan spoke slowly in a leisurely manner, as if he was saying something irrelevant.

Nothing too terrible, and Cang Lan's tone was casual, but Bai Yue felt a chill go down her spine.

Qing Qing's expression was consistent, but her heart was tumbling.

Chen Mu! He's Chen Mu! He's what I've been looking for! she thought. However, she couldn't do anything even when he was in front of her

"Not bad, Miss Qing Qing is indeed extraordinary," a voice came out behind her.

She kept silent.

"Rest assured, after this incident, not only will Miss Qing Qing be safe and sound, but also your companion." The man behind him chuckled. It was the best feeling for him, to manipulate the pride of the academy that was high up on the pedestal. His eyes glanced greedily and fervently over to Qing Qing. Qing Qing's appearance was a little above average, but it was her inviolable demeanor that attracted him.

He felt it was pitiful that he couldn't do what he wanted. He was a wise man who knew what to do and what not to do. If he really did something to Qing Qing, his superior would never let him off.

In Star Academy's principal office, the principal and the dean were dark with rage. They spent a lot of time looking for Chen Mu. When Chen Mu really appeared, they found that they could only look on with despair.

It was like someone who was looking for a treasure. They had a tough time looking for it, and when they finally discovered it, they couldn't retrieve it.

Rossiji was shocked when he saw Chen Mu on the screen. He exclaimed and almost lost his voice, "What is he doing there?"

Nick had a puzzled look. "Isn't he the one you showed me earlier? That boy called Chen Mu? Ah!" He suddenly exclaimed, "He… he's the White Commander!"

"Such a pity." Fatty felt sorry for him. His expression was like an antique enthusiast about to witness the destruction of a beautiful antique.

Mobley was petrified. He thought he was going crazy. He saw three acquaintances in the first three games. It was totally unexpected that Qing Qing participated in the competition. He noticed that Qing Qing was like a changed person. Her attacks were brutal. Chen Mu's appearance surprised him too. Maybe people were unfamiliar with Chen Mu, but Mobley knew very well that this teenager, who looked only in his early twenties, was well-known in Heavenly Federation. He was the real leader of the famous Snow Silkworm Card Artisan Team!

Among the three of them, Mobley was more familiar with Si Qing. They had fought together, and he always admired Si Qing's strength. Later, Mobley served as the leader of Snowflake Card Artisan Team, and his training time was greatly reduced. The gap between him and Si Qing became wider. He knew very well of Si Qing's character. He always kept a low profile and hid his strength. His strength was far beyond what anyone expected.

Mobley wanted to see Chen Mu's real capability, and he wanted to see Si Qing's progress over the years. However, to his great surprise, Si Qing didn't hesitate to give up in the match. Then, he saw an interview with Si Qing. Mobley, who knew him well, realized immediately that Si Qing wasn't kidding.

Mobley was dumbfounded! If Si Qing didn't see himself as an opponent for Chen Mu, then how frightening was the strength of this young man?

Mobley was lost in various conjectures.

When Chen Mu walked out of the arena, he was at a loss. He was hoping that a grand combat could draw out the demonic woman, but it was unexpected that his opponent simply surrendered. He wondered if the demonic woman saw him.

As Chen Mu walked away, he thought to himself that his second round of the competition wouldn't start until the next day.

Along the long corridor, there were participants warming up before entering the arena. The card artisans stopped what they were doing upon seeing Chen Mu. Many card artisans took a glance at Chen Mu and fell back in shock, while others were trying his patience.

Chen Mu turned a blind eye, and his mind wasn't on those card artisans.

Suddenly, Chen Mu stopped in his path. In the air, there was a faint murderous aura; it was familiar, and he was reliving his old memories in an instant.

His eyes got serious all at once. Amid his seriousness, he couldn't contain his excitement.

In the dark corner of the ceiling ahead, a blurred shadow was hard to detect.

He didn't hesitate to yell at the top of his lungs, "Wei-ah!" At the same time, he exerted force at his feet. A jet stream card was operated to its maximum. He was like an arrow released from its bow, suddenly retreating!

Chen Mu's unusual behavior confused all card artisans, and they looked at Chen Mu shooting backwards, puzzled.

A ghostly shadow was climbing along the ceiling, like a wisp of smoke. It chased Chen Mu swiftly. At the same time, the walls of Chen Mu's room burst open, and a dark shadow shot out! Light entered Chen Mu's eyes. He had flown out of the corridor! The loud noise from the spectator seats filled his ears.

He was unprecedentedly focused and, without any hesitation, he flew to the arena. The shadow behind him was chasing him feverishly. His shadow was like a cloud of smoke; hard to distinguish with the naked eye, even under strong lighting.

When Chen Mu flew to the center of the arena, he suddenly stopped and turned to face the unfathomable shadow. That unfathomable shadow stopped too. Her figure was finally revealed. The slim and astonishing waistline and the ugly face like a devil's, emitting a breath of danger.

Demonic woman!

That ugly face would never be forgotten by Chen Mu. He was very excited, but his mind desperately told him to calm down!

Wei-ah stopped in his path, an indifferent expression on his face. He surrounded the demonic woman in the middle with Chen Mu. This was Chen Mu's plan. The demonic woman was good at hiding herself. They had to drive her to the place where they could take in everything with just a glance, so they could deal with her better.

Three people made an abrupt appearance in the arena. One of them was Chen Mu, who just left the match. The abrupt change caused a heavy silence at the spectators' seats.

The ugly woman who badly hurt herself! Qing Qing thought.

When Qing Qing saw the three of them, she felt like she could be knocked down with a feather. She stared at them in disbelief. Many matters came to her mind, and without any hesitation, she crashed towards the glass window.

"You're crazy!" the man behind her screamed angrily and anxiously.

As if Qing Qing didn't hear his screams, her hands gently waved in front of her chest, a few rays of light shot out, and the high density protective glass window shattered! Under the crisp shattering sound of glass, she drifted towards the arena like a pale blue smoke.

In Room One, Jia Yingxia's expression was extremely gloomy. She gave a cold hum and raised her left hand gently. The temperature of the room dropped sharply. The glass window, along with the wall, turned into a canopy of fine crystals. She flew towards the arena with a look of dismay. Bai Yue followed her closely.

Cang Lan stared at Qing Qing in the arena, and when his eyes swept through Wei-ah and demonic woman, his expression changed. He didn't speak but flew towards the arena in light speed.

Chen Mu kept a close eye on demonic woman. The demonic woman looked at Chen Mu indifferently. Wei-ah's was expressionless. None of the original three people looked at the other four people; Qing Qing, Jia Yingxia, Bai Yue and Cang Lan were left out the picture.

No matter how silly a person was, one would know that something severe was bound to happen.